Isiah Thomas and Magic Johnson were good friends on the basketball court. But more than their passion for the game, both also had gay sons.
But while acceptance didn't come as easy for Magic's eldest son EJ, Thomas' boy Joshua Zeke said his parents were never hard on him for being gay. Zeke says they were the last persons he was afraid to reveal his sexual orientation.
"Was I afraid to come out as gay to my parents? Not at all," said Zeke. "They were the last I was afraid of. My family is the best and they are very supportive and will always be."
His parents helped him go through a traumatic experience
That support was evident when Zeke revealed that he was raped on February 2016 by a man he met on the Grindr dating app. Isiah's son said the man drugged him and took him to his apartment, where he was sexually assaulted.
The incident left Joshua shocked, and he didn't leave his apartment for days. At first, he tried to hide the incident, using drugs to cope with the trauma. Ultimately, he told his parents about it, and they helped him. When Zeke wanted to tell his story, his parents also supported him.
"They let me know that they're here for me, and we're going to do everything we can to help you through this journey. I sought out the help of medical professionals, therapists, and doctors. It has been a journey," added Zeke.
Related: "Young fella, you alright. Go sit back down. You good" - Jayson Tatum shares what Michael Jordan told him after a wine accident
Joshua is Isiah's youngest child
Zeke is Isiah's second child with his wife, Lynn Kendall. Lynn, the daughter of a Secret Service agent, met the basketball star on the campus of the University of Indiana, and they became college sweethearts. They married in 1985, shortly after Thomas signed his first contract extension with the Detroit Pistons .
Zeke graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Entertainment from his dad's alma mater. He began his career as a DJ, musician, and music producer but has evolved into bigger things. Currently, Joshua is an ambassador for RAINN, the largest anti-sexual violence organization in the United States. He is also a full-time coordinator for the Phoenix Suns.
Curiously, Isiah has a second son, Marc Edward Thomas Dones, who was born two months after the former Pistons captain got married. Zeke and Dones' mother, Jenni, had an intimate affair while the NBA star was already engaged, and their relationship bore a child. While Thomas has been very supportive of Joshua, Dones revealed that his father never tried to contact him despite repeated attempts to connect.
Related: Magic Johnson admits he struggled to come to terms with his son EJ's sexual orientation: "I saw that he liked dolls and to play dress up"
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